Hokies' Star Defender Suspended For A Half

Hall Won't Start Vs. Pitt Because Of Involvement In Fight Saturday

November 04, 2003|By NORM WOOD Daily Press

BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech cornerback DeAngelo Hall will miss the first half of Saturday's game against Pittsburgh due to an NCAA-mandated suspension stemming from a fight late in the Hokies' 31-7 win against Miami. Vincent Fuller will start in Hall's place and will work with cornerback Eric Green to match up against Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald, the nation's leading receiver.

Hall, who was ejected along with Miami cornerback Antrel Rolle as a result of the fight, will have to be on his best behavior. If Hall is ejected from another game this season, he will be ineligible to participate in any remaining games. Rolle will be suspended for Miami's entire game against Tennessee on Saturday since he was not a member of a unit that was on the field at the time of the fight.

The fight occurred with 5:16 remaining in the fourth quarter after Fuller intercepted a pass. Fuller was knocked out of bounds on the Miami sidelines at Tech's 33-yard line.

Hall ran over to help Fuller, who was pushed into Miami's bench. Hall allegedly either pushed or took a swing at Rolle and missed, and Rolle retaliated before the incident was broken up. Offsetting 15-yard personal fouls were called, and Hall and Rolle were ejected.

After the game, Tech coach Frank Beamer said he didn't believe Hall would be suspended. Beamer said he spoke after the game with an official who told Beamer the incident wouldn't be classified as a fight.

Nick Carparelli, the Big East's associate commissioner for football, called Beamer on Monday morning to tell him the conference ruled Hall and Rolle had fought, and that Hall would be suspended. Beamer asked John Soffey, the Big East's director of officiating, if the incident should be classified as a fight, but the conference's decision was upheld.

"I think it's regrettable what happened on both sides, but I think there was a push and a guy swung at air, really, from the TV copy I saw," Beamer said. "I think if that had happened out on the field, probably both kids would have been ejected but it would have been a personal foul. A couple of things happened out on the field that were called personal fouls, and to me it was kind of the same thing."

Attempts to contact Carparelli by telephone Monday were unsuccessful. Hall was not available for comment.

With Hall and Garnell Wilds, who tore the cartilage in his left knee two weeks ago, out for Saturday's game, the Hokies will not have much depth at cornerback. Beamer said redshirt freshman Brian McPherson will back up Fuller and Green.

Beamer added that Jimmy Williams, the Hokies' starting free safety and a graduate of Bethel High, will work some at cornerback this week in practice.

If Williams plays cornerback against the Panthers, Mike Daniels will play free safety.

Fitzgerald will be the focus of the Hokies' pass coverage. He is the nation's leading receiver, with 16 touchdowns this season and and a per-game average of 147 receiving yards.

Norm Wood can be reached at 247-4642 or by e-mail at nwood@dailypress.com